DIMINUTE ADJ. 1. diminished, lessened; abated; incomplete, defective, imperfect ...c1475 obs. 2. diminutive, minute, small ...1611 rare VERB to lessen; to belittle, to disparage, to put down, to degrade, to humiliate ...1575 rare ETYMOLOGY from Latin dī-, dēminūtus, past participle of dī- , dēminuĕre (to diminish) FIRST DOCUMENTED USE c1475 - see EXAMPLE below EXAMPLE "...Perceued it was by hys owne desert, Saw he and his land shold be disherite, Exile and deminute by his dedes smart. When fro the worlde cam in-to ending plite, A kyng after hym regned in þat site..." From: The Romans of Partenay, or of Lusignen: Otherwise Known as The Tale of Melusine Translated from the French of La Coudrette
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